Ribbon-reversing mechanism for type-writing machines.



No. 882,829. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

I W. P. KIDDER.. RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM PORTYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

- WITNESSES: V P ,IIWENTOR PA'fENTBD MAR. 24, 1908.

7 1 w. P. KIDDER. RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITINGYMAGHINBS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11.1905.

WITNESSES:

I ED sm w w OFFICE.

WELLINGTON P. KIDDER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PARKER MACHINE COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

- RIBBON-REYERSING MEOHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITING- MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented March 24, 1908.

Application filed September 11, 1906. Serial No. 277,911.

means for chan ing automatically the direction of feed of t e inking ribbon.

drawings. r

Preliminary to a description of the specific Another object is to rovide reversin mechanism ada ted initia y to be 0 erated by the tension 0 the inking ribbon, w en the end of said ribbon is reached, such that a certain and efiective action is secured, coupled with a m nimum of strain upon the ribbon.

Another object is the provision of ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism in a machine of the above type of such construction as' to operate substantially without noise.

Other objects will be in art obvious and in art pointed out hereina ter.

he invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will. be exemplified in the mechanism hereinafter to be described and the scope of the a plication of which will be indicated in the ollow ing claims. 1

n the accompanylng drawings, wherein is illustrated one of the various possible embodiments of my invention: Figure 1 is an elevation of the same.- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of'a detail of construction.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the features of my invention and in order to render clearer of understanding certain of the objects thereof, it may at this point beonoted that, in ribbon'feed reversing devices which operate automatically, it is essential to so construct the mechanism that the reversal may be accom lished in a very short period of time after t e playing out of the ribbon from either of the sup ly spools; otherwise,

there must necessarily e a period of rest for the ribbon, during which several printing characters will strike u on the'same spot and 1n a short time pe orate or otherwise render the ribbon useless. The inking ribbon being of a fragile nature, it is, moreover,

essential that the reversal of feed be accom plished without utting an undue strain upon said ribbon. 0 remove the above ob ections and accomplish these and other advantageousresults, I have found it desirable to provide-mechanism adapted automatically to eflect the reversal of the longitudinal feed of the inking ribbon of such construction that a veryslight tension upon theribbon will 0 erate the reversing mechanism, the

feed 0 the ribbon being in no wise retarded or hindered while the actual revel'sal' takes place, when the direction of the longitudinal movement is instantly changed.

One of the objects of my invention being to secure a noiseless feeding and reversing mechanism, I have, therefore, found it desirable to provide mechanism of such character as to eliminate concussion or impact of moving parts, insuring thereby a substantiall silent operation. A

T e above and other advantages are secured in constructions of the nature of that hereinafter described.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates a portion of the frame of a tvpewriti'ng machine designed to carry the ribbon spools and' ribbon reversing mechanism.

J ournaled in vertical openings at either end'o'f frame A are hollow driv ng shafts 1 and 2, provided near their upper ends with shoulders 3 and 4, from which extend reduced portions 5 and 6 respectively. Resting upon these shoulders and journaled upon the reduced portions 5 and 6 of shafts 1 and 2, are ribbon spools 7 and 8 respectively,

ada ted to carry the inking ribbon 9 and fee( the same longitudinal of the machine in either direction past the rinting point, the ribbon alternatel spool and unwinding om the other.

Shafts 1 and 2 at their lower ends are revided with worm wheels-10 and 11, wiich mesh with wor'm wheels 12 and 13 respectivelycarried at either end of the main ribbon feed driving shaft 14. Driving shaft 14 is connected in any suitable manner to the universal bar or other frequently moving wincing upon one part of the machine-seas to be rotated-in one direction by a step-by-step movement, the connecting and actuatingparts for this. shaft being-omitted from the drawings in the interest of 'clearness of illustration, inasmuch as j they of themselves comprise no" essential art of my present invention. Atthis point,

' itmay be noted that the s irals of the worm wheelsatropposite ends the machine are oppositely arrangedn order that shafts 1' "an *Qmay be rotatedin opposite directions by means of the main driving shaft 14; The upper and lower flanges of ribbon spools 7 and 8 are each provided with a series '0 v concentrically arranged openings and 16respective ly, as clearly shown 1n Fig. 2,

. 1 for a purppse presently to'be made apparent.

.Exten ng through each of hollowshafts land 2 areconnecting pins 17 and18, the upper ends of which are ent outwardly and thence extend u wardly, as at 19 and 20,

extending throng lateral openings 21 and 22 of shafts 1 and 2'respectively. Connecti pins 17 and 18 are capable of longitudina ,reciprocation'in their respective shafts and are compelled to rotate with saids'hafts, the upper ends'thereof describing circles equal f in circumferenceto the circumference of flanges of theribbon spools. I

.P1nned, asat 23 to the lower ends of con necting pins 17 and 18 are abutments 24 and 25 res 'ectively, spaced, slightly a art to rethe concentrically arrangedopenings in the Y ceive t e ends of counter-balance tilt beam or bar 26, which is pivotally mounted at 27 to a fixed portion ofthe frame of .the machine. Connecting pins 17 and 18, therefore, as will be understood'from Fig. 1 of the drawings, rest upon either end of beam 26 and, when said beam is tilted in eitherdirec- .tion, one of said pins will be forced upwardly in its encircling shaft until its upper end enters one" 'of the concentrically arranged openings in the flange ofits ribbonspool,- and simultaneously with its upward movement, the other of said-pins is dropped .by gravity' out of one of the concentrically arranged openings in the other of said spools. Itwill be apparent that when either of c 0n-' nectin pins 17 or 18 is in engagement with.

"its rib on spool, the other pin 'll'be out of engagement with the op 'osit'e rib'b'on spool and the first-mentione Spool, bein connected to rotate with the driving sha will be the winding spool, the other or delivery spool being. free to rotate upon its driving s aft 1 In order that counter-balanced tilt-beam '26 may be tilted automatically to reverse the feed of the ribbon when the ribbon is sub-' stantially exhausted from one of said ribbon spools, said beam is provided with a lateral extension 28 which extends upwardly and is," in turn, provided with a lateral extension 29L Extension 29 is adapted to be received bein a para spectively, which are suitably journaled'in t e frame of the machine. Tri 'levers 35 and 36 are substantiall .cra'nk-s aped, the upper ends'37 and 38 eing in the resent instance turned downwardlyat 39 an 40 respectively to form. narrow assa'geways 41 'for inking ribbon 9. It is, 0 course, obviousthat the s ecific construction of the'trip levers 35- an 36, whereby the narrow passageways 41 for the inking ribbon are secured, is immaterial, and that for jthe downwardly turned portions could-be substituted abifurcated u wardly extending member. Trip evers 35 and 36.and,lever arms-33 and 34 res ectively are preferably arranged el relation, as shown, so that a.

given swing of crank arms 35 and 36 will cause a corresponding angular swing of lever,

arms33 and 34. a Keyed to trip lever 36 and extendmg n ang e to lever arm 34, is a lever arm 42 having a projecting stud 43 which is connected machine, as at 45..

Spring 44 is adapted to exert. "essureupon lever arm 42 upon either side 0 trip lever 36 as a pivotalcenter and, inasmuch as lever arms. 34 and 42 and trip lever 36 are rigidly 'connected,',trip lever 36 will be'maintained in either of two positions with respect to its pivotal point.

Link 32 connecting lever arms 33 and 34 will; of course, cause a pivotal movement of trip lever 35 corresponding with the angular movement of trip lever 36.

ribbon. 9 is, near either end thereof,

.. p I provide with enlargements or abutmente 46, oneof which is 0 early shown in Fig. 2,

the resent instance, at substantially a right by a retractile spring 44 to a fixed part of the iii) the abutment at the op osite endbeing covered by the windings o the ribbon. Abut-.

merits 46- are of larger dimensions than the *width of'thepassageways 41 in-thetrip levers .throu h which the inkingribbon travels.

Having escribed my} invention, the operation, which should be largely obvious from the above description, is substantiallyas follows: Counter balanced beam 26 being tilted as shown in Fig. 1, spool? is by means of pin 17 connected to rotatewith shaft 1 and is,

accordingly, the take-up or winding spool,

spool 8 -being the unwinding or delive spool, with trip levers 35 and 36 occu ing t e positions shown in Fi s. 1 and 2.1 hen the continued travel of t e ribbonby means of main shaft 14 coacting through its, worm connection with shaft 1, has substantially unwound said ribbon from spool 8, the abutpass therethrough, and the further feed of the inking ribbonwill causetrip lever 36 to rotate against the tension of sprin 44, which; hen, howexerts a pull on crank arm 42. ever, stud 43 of leverarm 34 to which spring 44 is attached has been carried past the dead center point, spring 44 will accelerate the g swinging of trip lever 36. Link 32, connect ed with trip lever through lever arm 33,

will, by this swinging of trip lever 36'be reciprocated to bring abutment 31 into engagement with the turned-over portion of exten- -sion-29 of counter-balanced tilt beam 26, and

' will'tilt said beam to allow connecting pin 17 to fall by gravity from engagement with take up spool 7, thereby disconnecting said spool from driving shaft 1. Simultaneously with the disengagement of pin 17 from spool 7,

however, pin1-8 will have been forced into one of the openings -in the flange spool 8,

thereby making a connection with said spool and shaft 2. Shaft 2 rotating in an opposite direction from shaft 1,, as hereinb'efore ex-:

plained, will cause the ribbon to wind u on spool 8, whereby the direction of the eed' is reversed. Trip levers 35 and 36, being connected by means of link 32 to swing in unison, will now occupy the positions shown in the dotted lines o ig. 2, and when the end of the ribbon upon spool .7 has been; reached, the other abutment thereon engag-{ the walls of the passageway4l in trip lever 35"Will cause a reversal of the operations next above described spring 44, as be-.. of trip levers 35 and 36 in opposite directions. Ac-

fora-sewing to accelerate tlie swin :cordingl it will be seen that I have pro- 'vided ri bon reversing mechanism wherein theobjects of my invention are achieved, characterized by simplicity of structure, and efficiency of action. The reversal of "the ribsbontakes placesubstantially instantaneously,

precluding the striking of several type.

characters upon the same spot of the inking ribbon during the reversing Mention as applied to a typewriting machine of the above type, I do not wish to be understood as limiting its emp'loyment to machines of this, nor in fact -to anywther type, as the same may be used 'to great advantage in other forms of machines.

- As many -.changes could be made in the.

above construction and many apparently widely different [embodiments of e 0 oration; Among several others, a further a vantage 1' tion could. be made without departing from the scope thereof, I-intend that all matter containedin the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as il ustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described invention, what I connecting members in opposite directions,,

whereby one of'said spools is connected with the driving means and the other of said spools is .(llSCOIlIlGOlK-ld therefrom.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, ofia pair of ribbon spools, means adapted alternately to drive said spools in opposite directions, and a pair of b'alancedconnecting members, one for each spool, adapted to connect one of said spools with its driving means and simultaneously to disconnect the other of said spools from its driving means, said connecting and disconnecting o erations being operated by the tension oft e ribbon.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with an inking ribbon, of a pair of ribbon spools, means adapted alternately to drive said spools in opposite directions, a pair of connecting members, one for each spool, a balanced .Ynember adapted at either end thereof to sup ort one of said members, and means controiled by the tension of the ribbon adapted to tilt said balanced member to engage one of said connecting members with its spool and simultaneously to disengage the other of said'connecting members from its spool.

. 4. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a air of spools adapted tocarry the in ing rib on and feed the same in opposite directions, driving means for each spool, means adapted alternately to connect each of said spools with its driving means, a balancedtilt-beam upon either end of which one of said connecting means is supported, and means controlled by the tension of the ribbon adapted to tilt said beam to engage one of said connecti means with one of said ribbon spools anr-simultaneo'usly to disengage the other of said connecting means from its ribbon spool.

5. In a typewriting machine, in combination, apair of s ools adapted to carry the -inin'g ribbon anfeed' the same alternately in opposite directions, means adapted altery to connect each of said spools with its -tlriving-rneans, a balanced tilt-beam upon and which one ofsaicl connecting means s supported,'means controlled by the tension of the ribbon adapted, to tilt said beam to'en age one of saidconnecting means with-one said ribbon spools and simultanect eachof said tip --in:ing rib on and feed the same injopposite directions, driving means for each'of said spools, means adapted alternately to coneither end of said connecting means, means controlled b. the tension of the. ribbon adapted to ti t said beam to engage thereby.

one of said connecting means with one of said ribbon spools and simultaneously to dis engage the other of said connecting means from the other of-said ribbon-spools, and a sprin adaptedto accelerate said engaging and isengaging operation.

7. In a typewriting machine,

to carry t e ribbon, driving mechanism for said spools, connectors, one for each spool, and vmeans interposed in the path of the ribbon adapted when the samebecomes tensioned to move ing mechanism for said spools, a

said connectors simultaneously "in opposite directions wherebyone of said spools is con- .nected with its driving meansan'd the other of'said spools is disconnected from its drivmeans whereby the feed of the ribbon is reversed. I

,8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with the Iinking ribbon, of a pair of ribbon spools adapted to carry the ribbon, driving mechanism for 'said spools,. a air of connectors, one for each spool, a ba anced member supportin at either end one (if said connectors,said ba anced member being free; to tilt in either direction, and means mterposed'in the path of the ribbonadapted when H ribbon becomes tensioned to tilt said interposed in the path of the ribbon adapted sai'd balanced member to engage thereby one of said connectors with one of said spools-and simultaneously to disengage the other of said connectors from the other 1 of "said spools, whereby the feed of the ribbonisreversed;

9. Ina typewriting machine, the combi-.

nation with the inking ribbon, of a air of spools" adapted t carry the ribbon, rivin nectors, one for each spool, a ba anced member supporting at either end-one .ofsaid connectors, said balanced member being free to tilt in either direction, means inter 'osed in the path of the ribbon adaptedw en'said ribbon becomes tensioned to'tilt said bal anced member to engage thereb one of said connectors withone of said spoo s and simuli taneously to disengage the other of said, con-'1 riband ools with its driving means, .a balanced tilt-beam supporting at the combination with an inr-in ribbonof a airof rib-. bon spools 'adapte a pairof j 'pair of con nectors from the other of said spools whereby thefeed of the ribbon is reversed, and means ,free from said balanced member for accelerdirection.

nation with an ribbon, of a pair of spools-adapted to fee said ribbon longitudiada'pted rotatably to sup spools, mechanism for drivin said shafts 1n opposite directions, a pair 0 reciprocating connectors, one for each spool, and means interposed in the path of the-ribbon adapted cate said connectors simultaneously in 0 pcsite directions whereby one of said spoo is connected to rotate with its driving shaft and the other of said spools is disconnected from its driving shaft.

nation with an inking ribbon, of aipa ir of sipools adapted to carry the ribbon, a pair of riving shafts one for each spool, connectors anced member either. end of which supports one of said connectors, and means the operation of which is determined by the tension of the ribbon adapted to tilt said f, balanced with its spool and simultaneously to disengagel the other of said connectors from its s 00.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with an'inkin ribbon, ofapair of, spools adapted to fee the same alternately in opposite longitudinal directions, driving shafts, one for each spool, means for drivin said shafts in op osite directions, afpair o connectors, one. or each spool, adapted. to .connecteach of said spools with its driving shaft, a balanced member supporting at either end one of said connectors, means or tiltin there y one of said connectors with its spool andsimultaneously to disengage the other of said connectors from its spool, and means when the same becomestensioned to operate said last-mentioned means.

13. Inatypje'writing machine, the combination with .an inking ribbon, of a pair. of spools adapted alternately to feed the ribbonshafts, one for each .spool,- meansfor drivin said shafts in op osite directions, a pair 0 -connectors, one or each s 001, adapted alter'natel' to connect eacho said spools with porting at either end thereof one; of saidiinnectors, ber'to engage thereby one of said' connectors I with its spool and simultaneously to disengglge the' other of saidconnectors from its t ving epoch-and pivotally mounted means member to engage one of said connectors iniopposite longitudinal directions, .1 20

its driving shaft; a balancedmember supmeans for tilting said balanced m w;

ating the tilting operation thereof in either 10. In a typewriting machine, the comb]- nally in opposite directions, driving shafts I port each of said when the same becomes tensioned to rec1pro-.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combifor each spool and its driving shaft, a balsaid/balanced member to,--'engage iso interp when the same said last-inentione 14. Ina typewriting nation with an inki arranged near th bon, a pair of spool feed the ribbon in op rections,

means for rections,

ribbon spoo ,ada each of said spoo balanced'member s thereof one of s ing said balanc one of said connec multaneousl to diseng connectors mounted means inte ribbon adapte said rejections tione means:

v15.. Inja typewriting machine, nation with an inking ribbon, arranged near bon, span" of sai gage thereby one and simultaneous other ofsaid connect means interposed in e to be engaged b pro ections to operate sai spool adapted means.

rections,

-a driving s o'sed in the path of the ribbon becomes tensioned to operate d means.

adrivings ded with driving sha ts,

machine, ng ribbon of projections e opposite ends of said ribs adap ositelongitudinal d1- 'aft for each ribbon, driving said shafts in opposite di' air of connectors, one

ted alternately to connect s with its driving s upporting' at aid connectors, means for tilted member to eng'age thereby tors with its spool and s1- age the otherof said rom its spool,

rposed in thep d' to be engaged to operate sai last:-men-' theopposite spools adapted tofeed the'ribk bon alternatelyyin opplosite longitudinal diaft, for each spool, ng said shafts in opposite dit'bnnectors, one d alternately: 11' its drivi the later er to tiltthe same to en-- of said connectors with its 1y" to diseng e the on the path-of t e ribbon ribbon,

adapted the combi:

ted alternately to for each haft, a either end and pivot ally either of the combiends. of said Qribfor each to connect each :of

ngl shaft, a balanced a at eral projection,

member supporting at either sa d ,conneetors, means a1 projection of from itss oo and either of said. last-mentioned ewriting machine, the combi of abutments' 'ear the oppositeends of said rib;

adaptedtofeed he ribosite, longitudinal dione for each spool,

ath of the Y of projections means for driving said shafts in opposite directions, a pair of connectors," one for each spool, adapted alternately to connect each of said spools with its driving shaft, a balanced member provided with a lateral'extension, said balanced memben supporting at either end thereof one of said connectors,"means adapted to engage said lateral extension to tilt said balanced member whereby oneof said connectors is engaged with its spool and the other of saidconnectors is simultaneously disengaged ally rriounted trip-leaders interposed in the pathofthe ribbon adapted to be engaged by saidabutments whereb said last-mentioned means may be operate -'17, In a typewriting machine, in combination with the inki ribbon, of a pair of ribbon spools, a pair 0 connectors, one for each spool, a pair of driving shafts, one for each s 001, and a balanced member free to tilt in either direction',said balancedmember sup porti at-either end one of said connectors and a apted to enga e one of'said connectors with its ribbon s 00 dise age the ot er Tits ri bon spool, the tilti memberbein g controlled of said balanced y the tension of -nectors bei bon spools, a pair'o adapted to engage one of said connectors with its ribbon s 001 and imultaneously to disengage the ot its ribbon spool,

the ribbon.

in the presence oftwo witnesses.

Witnesses'.

' JOSIAH H.3/PEOK,

Cons AfS'ram,

theribbon. 18;v In a typewriting machine", in combina-' tion with the inki' ribbon, of a pair of riber of said connectors from the tilting of said balanced;- tilt beam being controlled byv theten'si on of y rag In testimony whereof I afiix my signature,

from its spool, and pivotv and simultaneously toof said connectors from connectors, saidiconfree from said spools andalso. free from said tilt beam, said tiltbeam being 

